Hall of Fame: Gallery
Hall of Fame: Gallery
In the beginning, three Hawks' stars were given Hall of Fame status to celebrate the opening of the Blackburn Hawks shrine. We must first remember that when, these three were inducted, in March 1998, none of them were current members of the Hawks Roster. Infact, for the 1997 - 1998 season the team had actually changed it's name to the Lancashire Hawks. The first 'inductee' had played his hockey in Blackburn as a player coach during the 1992 - 1993 and 1993 - 1994 seasons. Steve Moria is a British Canadian, born 3rd February 1961 and was one of the greatest assets ever to his Blackburn Arena. At the end of his time in Blackburn Moria joined Swindon and moved on to Cardiff where he would end his playing career in 2000. Many Hawks' fans have expressed their desire to see him return to the Arena as Hawks Coach.
 Steve Moria 1992 - 1994 Also inducted with Steve were two imports who played for the Hawks during what many fans class as the 'best' season so far. The first was another Canadian who came to Blackburn Arena in a Player-Coach capacity with the job of bringing success to the town the season after local neighbours the Rovers had won footballs top award. Born on 5th June 1967, Ryan Kummu not only won an entry to the Hall of Fame for his season with the Hawks but was also named in the British Ice Hockey Writers Association Premier Division All Star Team after just missing out on winning the league title with the Hawks.
 Ryan Kummu 1995 - 1996 For much of that season the Hawks were written off as 'also-rans' and indeed the pre match build up to the first British League Division One game to be screened live on Sky TV focused around the Hawks opponents for the evening, the newly created Manchester Storm, who were clear favourites to run away with the title from the start. The Hawks won that game 12 - 9, the scoreline being a lot closer than the game due to Manchesters sizable roster being too powerful for the smaller roster of the Hawks who were tiring towards the end of the game. One of the stars of that game is Ryan's co-inductee for the season. Not only was this Ukranian a star of that game, but of the whole season, scoring a massive 282 points for the Hawks that season in goals and assists. Born 6th March 1965, Oleg Sinkov was amoungst the leagues top scorers that season. He left the Hawks at the end of the year to have another successful season with Kingston.
 Oleg Sinkov 1995 - 1996 So, onto 1999 when the next Hall of Famer is to be decided. The Hawks were playing in the British National League. Contraversy rained for the beginning of the year when the Hawks axed many of their roster due to serious financial difficulties. Those who remained were obviously disheartened by the going's on in the Arena but knew that they had to step up a gear and take each game as it comes to try to recover something from the season. Not one of the best seasons Blackburn has seen, but those remaining players made it an enjoyable one with their fighting spirit and off ice humour. James Beale was no exception to this and became a firm favourite with the hockey crouds that season. A native New Yorker Beale, born 26th July 1976, joined the Hawks as he wanted to get a taste of hockey on this side of the Ocean. His mother is from Ireland meaning that James had no problem getting a work permit and told Eye of the Hawks, "I figured I might as well give it a shot". James went back to the US at the end of the 1998 - 1999 season but keeps in touch with the Blackburn fans and is a regular reader of Eye of the Hawks.
 James Beale 1998 - 1999 Most recently, the Hawks have been playing in the English League Division One North and are concentrating on bringing young players through the junior development system into the Hawks roster. One such player to do this is a young netminder that was backup to Colin Downie during the 1999 - 2000 season. At the end of the 1998 - 1999 season Downie had announced his retirement from hockey but was persuaded to return for another year, however due to other commitments he was unable to make every game. Step up Robbie Smith, thrust into action at the start of the season, this 19 year old had was thrown in at the deep end. During the course of the season, his game improved tremendously, earning him the supporters clubs Most Improved Player award. The fans obviosly agreed with this decision in voting him the fifth entrant to the Hall of Fame...
Robbie Smith 1998 - 2001 Well done to all these players. Now all that's left is to choose a new entrant for this season. Voting begins in January 2001. Don't miss your chance!
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